Supporting Dialogue and Analysis on Trade-Offs in Climate Adaptation Research With the Maladaptation Game

Bibliographic Data

ID21629790
AuthorsTina‐simone Neset (0000-0003-1151-9943, Linköping University, corresponding author), Sirkku Juhola (0000-0003-0095-2282, University of Helsinki), Lotten Wiréhn (0000-0003-4014-1441, Linköping University), Janina Käyhkö (0000-0003-0904-5857, University of Helsinki), Carlo Navarra (0000-0001-9892-8875, Linköping University), Therese Asplund (0000-0001-5549-5897, Linköping University), Erik Glaas (0000-0002-5126-3973, Linköping University), Wibeck (0000-0001-5652-3116, Linköping University), Björn-Ola Linnér (0000-0001-9910-3779, Linköping University)
Year2020
Volume51
Issue3
Pages378-399
Publication date2020-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSimulation & Gaming (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1046-8781 • E-ISSN: 1552-826X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1046878120904393
OpenAlexW3007743456
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited30

Background. Serious games are gaining increasing prominence in environmental communication research, but their potential to form an integrated part of participatory research approaches is still strikingly understudied. This is particularly the case for applications of interactive digital formats in research on environmental challenges of high complexity, such as climate adaptation, which is a specifically suitable case as it involves complex interaction between climate systems and society, but where the response also involves trade-offs with potentially negative – maladaptive – outcomes. Intervention. This article presents the Maladaptation Game, which was designed to facilitate dialogue about potential negative outcomes of agricultural climate adaptation. Methods. We conducted test sessions with agricultural stakeholders in Finland and Sweden, and analysed quantitative and qualitative, audio-recorded and transcribed, material for opportunities and challenges related to dialogues, engagement, interactivity and experienced relevance. Results. The qualitative analysis of recorded dialogues shows that the Maladaptation Game has potential to support dialogue by challenging players to negotiate between options with negative outcomes. The gameplay itself presents opportunities in terms of creating engagement with options that provoke disagreement and debates between players, as well as interactivity, that players reflected upon as quick and easy, while challenges were related to the experienced relevance, in particular the options provided in the game, and its general framing. Conclusions. The results indicate a need for complementary approaches to this type of game but also suggest the importance of moderation when the game design is aimed at creating dialogue around a complex environmental challenge such as agricultural climate adaptation

CLARITY · Environmental resource management · Interactivity · Maladaptation · Moderation · Multimedia · Negotiation · Political science · Sociology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Computer Science · Educational Games and Gamification · Engineering · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychology · Social Psychology

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